Officials decry plan to release prisoners

Local state assemblymen and Orange County police officials brainstormed ways to counter Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed release of more than 22,000 prisoners Thursday, most of whom considered the idea a calamity.

“The crooks are winning. You don’t think these guys are talking about getting out early? We’re rewarding these guys,” Assemblyman Mike Duvall (R-Yorba Linda) said.

The governor’s proposal to release tens of thousands of low-risk, nonviolent, non-sex offenders is expected to save the state hundreds of millions of dollars when California faces a multibillion-dollar deficit, state officials said.

After discussing the issue with local authorities, the assemblymen didn’t sound too keen on the idea. Assemblyman Chuck DeVore said the governor’s plan overlooks some basic facts.

Many of the nonviolent criminals, whom police officials said were generally drug offenders, have rap sheets that stretch back years beyond their most previous arrest.

“Some drug criminals are by nature unpredictable,” DeVore said.

They show no predictable crime pattern that would indicate they will remain nonviolent, he said.

Police officials from Orange to Westminster said the proposal was bad public policy and that it would create a problem for county jails once they were re-arrested.

Dave Wilson, commander of the Theo Lacy jail in Orange, said he expects the jail to be compensated if released convicts end up back in a cell.

DeVore and Assemblyman Van Tran emphasized cooperation between the police and the politicians.

“We need to keep channels of communication open. It’s important for us to find out your concerns early,” DeVore said. “We’re going to need your help.”

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.